diff --git a/tools/ci/merge-to-master.sh b/tools/ci/merge-to-master.sh
index 1cebd10de..d44eb5219 100755
--- a/tools/ci/merge-to-master.sh
+++ b/tools/ci/merge-to-master.sh
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ success 4 u push run
   [ "$fails" = 0 ] && echo "self-test passed: a GitHub remote is refused with exit 2 while the suspension marker stands and a mirror remote is not; the CI rule binds a GitHub remote only; a landed master is fast-forwarded to every mirror and a refused mirror push is a line, not a failure; a green branch run merges; a red one is refused; an unknown read is waited through and refused only at the deadline; a queued run is waited for with the clock; an unrun branch is pushed once and then waited for; a red master refuses every merge but the declared fix"
   exit $fails
 fi
-github_suspended_refusal "$REMOTE" && exit 2   # before any gh or git call
+if [ "$SELF_TEST" != 1 ] && github_suspended_refusal "$REMOTE"; then exit 2; fi   # before any gh or git call (the self-test exercises the function itself)
 [ -z "$(git status --porcelain --untracked-files=no)" ] || { echo "merge-to-master: the tree has uncommitted tracked changes; commit first" >&2; exit 1; }
 bash tools/ci/gh-account-check.sh || exit 1   # gh's active account on this Mac is the stored Igneum entry (main's rule, 7 October 2026, 21:5x UK)
 SHA=$(git rev-parse "$BRANCH"); G=$(cd "$(git rev-parse --git-common-dir)" && pwd -P)